Street Lights In Spotlight At Meeting Tonight

Subdivision Plan Prompts Questions

TOLLAND — A ubiquitous feature of the urban landscape -- the street light -- doesn't cause much of a stir in many communities.

But whether more street lights begin appearing in Tolland depends in part on how the town council reacts tonight to a local developer's request to install them in a new subdivision.

The town now has no policy concerning street lights in residential subdivisions. About 20 to 30 town- owned street lights have been installed over the years for specific traffic safety concerns or for security at the town-owned business park. There also are some on state-owned roads. But most subdivisions do not have them.

Joan Harkins, wife of former Town Manager John Harkins, wants to install four street lights in the 10-lot Orchard Hill Estates subdivision, which was approved by the planning and zoning commission last month. The commission took no action on the lights because no zoning regulations addressed the issue.

The lights, paid for and installed by the Harkinses, would be on a new 1,200-foot road off Bakos Road. The street lights would then become town property, just as new subdivision roads currently are turned over to the town.

David Smith, director of community development, said the town needs more information on the maintenance and electricity costs of the street lights.

``We're used to fixing roads,'' he said. ``We don't have people who fix street lights.''

Steve Amedy, a real estate broker involved in the project with the Harkinses, said the street lights would be relatively cheap. The lights he suggested to the Harkinses are basic, 18-foot fiberglass poles purchased from Northeast Utilities. The street lights cost about $250 each and Northeast maintains them indefinitely as part of the deal.

More attractive street lights are available, but problems can arise later if they need to be replaced and the model is no longer made, Amedy said. The electricity will cost the town about $11 per street light a month.

Personal taste also will play a role in the discussion. Smith said residents who want to protect Tolland's ``rural charm'' may want to keep lighting levels low.

Amedy said the street lights will improve the appearance of the upscale development, where houses will probably sell for $250,000 or more. The feature may attract some buyers, while others may not like them.